The flushing program is a necessary part of ensuring the high quality of Stuttgart's drinking water, according to the department's door hangers that have been placed on several area hom...

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Stuttgart Municipal Water Works will be flushing fire hydrants in several areas of town over the next month.

The flushing program is a necessary part of ensuring the high quality of Stuttgart's drinking water, according to the department's door hangers that have been placed on several area homes.However, the flushing process can cause some service disruptions. For example, during this time, customers may experience low water pressure and discolored water. No health risks are associated with the discolored water.The department provides tips, which include:• Customers should avoid running their tap water, and avoid using the washing machine or dishwasher if they see a crew flushing a hydrant on their street. Tap water used during the flushing process may have sediment that causes discoloration. When laundering clothes, wait till water runs clear at the tap, then wash a load of dark clothes first.• If customers notice discolored water, shut the water off and wait several minutes. Then, check the clarity by running cold water for a few minutes, allowing it to work its way through your pipes. If it is clear, it can be used.• In some cases, slight discoloration may linger for a few hours. This discoloration only effects the appearance of water and does not affect water quality. There is no health hazard associated with discolored water from hydrant flushing.• If water pressure or water volume seems low, check the faucet screens for trapped particles.• Flushing a hydrant generally takes between 15 minutes to an hour.If you have any questions contact Stuttgart Municipal Water Works at (870) 673-3246 or by stopping by their office, which is located at 612 S. College Street.

The Stuttgart Municipal Waterworks department is chasing the yellow or discolored water across town in the hopes of flushing it out of the water system completely. The issue was brought up during the end-of-the-year Stuttgart City Council meeting where Waterworks Director Tommy Lawson was present.

"We are flushing the whole town," Lawson said, explaining that the department is flushing lines to clear the color. "The problem is fixed at the plant. We are just trying to work our way — all the way through."

Crews started flushing lines on the north end of town, past Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart.

"We are chasing it," he said of what now has become known as the "yellow cloud."

Despite the discoloration, a boil order has never been in effect, Lawson said. The city's water is still passing all inspections and state tests for safe drinking water. If the test had come back insufficient or the department felt the water was in some way a danger to residents, a boil order would have been enacted.

"The original problem was the line work they are doing," Lawson said of the new pipes that are being installed around town. This caused the sediment to be disrupted.

"(Residents) will see us around. We will flush, then flush (some areas) again and get it cleared up," he said.

The whole process should take about month or more to clear the entire system, Lawson said.

The flushing program is a necessary part of ensuring the high quality of Stuttgart's drinking water, according to the department's door hangers that have been placed on several area homes.

However, the flushing process can cause some service disruptions. For example, during this time, customers may experience low water pressure and discolored water. No health risks are associated with the discolored water.

The department provides tips, which include:

• Customers should avoid running their tap water, and avoid using the washing machine or dishwasher if they see a crew flushing a hydrant on their street. Tap water used during the flushing process may have sediment that causes discoloration. When laundering clothes, wait till water runs clear at the tap, then wash a load of dark clothes first.

• If customers notice discolored water, shut the water off and wait several minutes. Then, check the clarity by running cold water for a few minutes, allowing it to work its way through your pipes. If it is clear, it can be used.

• In some cases, slight discoloration may linger for a few hours. This discoloration only effects the appearance of water and does not affect water quality. There is no health hazard associated with discolored water from hydrant flushing.

Page 2 of 2 - • If water pressure or water volume seems low, check the faucet screens for trapped particles.

• Flushing a hydrant generally takes between 15 minutes to an hour.

If you have any questions contact Stuttgart Municipal Water Works at (870) 673-3246 or by stopping by their office, which is located at 612 S. College Street.